Portable horse-feeding trough.



F. L. MEYER. I PORTABLE HORSE FEEDING TROUGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1912-.

1,049,256, Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

WITNESSES INVE/VTUR Frederick L. Meyer- By w .monusrs v COLUMBIAPLANofinAPI-l BOHWASmNGTQN. D. C.

PATENT @FFTEE.

lUNfThlf) %TATE% FREDERICK L. MEYER, 0F SQRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOROIE ONE-HALF To GEORGE E. UTI-IIVEAN, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTABLE HORSE-FEEDING TROUGH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Application filed May 16, 1912. Serial No. 697,609.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnnnnion L. MEYER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Portable Horse-FeedingTrough, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in View are:to provide a supporting frame for a portable horse-feeding trough,adapted for convenient adjustment upon the collar of the harness; and toprovide a frame of the character mentioned having means incorporatedtherein for adjustment to suit service conditions of the trough whenused by horses of various builds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specifr cation, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is apictorial view showing the head, neck and shoulders of a horse, having acollar, and supported thereon a feedtrough and frame therefor,constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention' Fi 2is a to 3 ohm View of the su porting frame for the feed trough c011-structed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing the anchorage frame forthe trough-supporting frame, the end fragments of said trough-supportingframe being shown in section; Fig. 4 is a detail view in side elevation,showing the anchor frame above referred to, and the modified form oftrough-suspending frame.

As seen in the accompanying drawings, the trough 10 is constructed fromany suitable fabric, the upper edge being bound upon or about theshaping frame 11. The shaping frame 11 is constructed from suitablewire, which is coiled or bent to form eyelets 12, and after forming saideyelets, the ends of the wire from which the frame 11 is shaped areextended, and atthe extreme end provided with outwardly-disposed hooks18, which extend below and engage the side bars 1d of the extensionframe. The extension frame referred to is an open frame, the purposewhereof is to hold in direct service position the trough 10 when thesame is extended thereover and not 'folded. Said extension frame isprovided with a cross bar 15 and foot extensionsld, 'the latter beingturned downwardly from the side bars it at an angle thereto, to restupon an anchor frame 17, after being extended through the eyelets 18thereof. The anchor frame 17 is bowed to form a rounded section 19,which fits the throat section of the hames A. frame- 1'? comprisesrelatively straight bar sections, having at the extreme upper endthereof eyelets 20, each having attached thereto a strap sectio 21,arranged to be joined by a buckle 22.

In many instances, and particularly when the trough 10 is small or lightin weight, the foot extensions 16 provide the necessary means forholding the side bars 14 extended to support the trough 10. When,however, the back is of greater size, or the weight is greater than canbe conveniently supported by the extensions 16, or by the bars 14:, thelatterare reinforced by link bars 23, as shown best in Fig. 5 ofdrawings. The bars 23 are pivotally and permanently connected witheyelets 24: formed on the frame 17 and have hooks which temporarilyengage eyelets 25 formed on the bars 14.

The above modification of the structure does not interfere with thefolding of the trough and supporting structure therefor. When the hookends of the bars 23 are released from engagement with the eyelets 25,said bars are free to fold parallel with the anchor frames 17.Thereafter, the shaping frame 11 may be folded upwardly and over uponthe extension frame. The extension frame, now carrying in foldedrelation the shaping frame, is swung upon the eyelets 18 upward againstthe anchor frame, the three frames and the link bars being thus closelynested or disposed in folded relation. The flexible trough 10 iscollapsed, to rest within the open space between the sides of theframes, and the holding device is in completion advantageous for packingor storing away within small space.

To feed a horse, when having a trough and supporting frame thereforconstructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, theoperation is as follows The anchor frame 17 is disposed about thecollar, in front of the ham'es A. The upper ends are drawn together bymeans of the strap sections 21, the anchor frame being The upper portionof the thereby rigidly held upon the collar and hames'of the harness.Prior to thus disposing the anchor frame, the extension frame and theshaping frame have been disposed in their extended position,substantially as shown in Fig. 1 of drawings, so that when the anchorframe is finally adjusted, the trough 10 is in position to receive themeasure of grain or food. The food is now deposited in the trough 10,and the horse permitted to partake thereof.

It will be noted that the resiliency of the extension frame and theshaping frame is sufiicient to permit the nosing of the horse at thebottom of the trough without damaging the structure. It will also beseen that the trough 10 may be made of a size to avoid the usual escapeof food or grain from the mouth of the horse, when feeding,

this waste being deposited in the trough 10.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A portable horse-feeding trough, comprising ananchor frame adapted for mounting upon a horse-collar, to be rigidlyheld thereon, said frame having eyelets formed therein adjacent theshoulder-pad of said collar; an extension frame pivotally connectedwit-h said anchor frame, and provided with supporting feet to extendthrough said eyelets and to bear upon said anchor frame, below the sameto form a brace for the support, in horizontal position, of saidextension frame; a shaping frame, consisting of wire bent to form asemi-circular shape, and coiled toform pivotal connections for engagingsaid extension frame, said shaping frame having rear- Wardly-extendinghooks to engage the under side of said extension frame, to support saidshaping frame.

2. A port-able horse-feeding trough, comprising an anchor frameconstructed from resilient wire shaped to conform with a horse-collar orhames therefor; fastening straps for the free ends of said frame, todraw the frame in holding position on said collar or hames, said wirebeing bent upon itself to form adjacent the shoulder-pads of said collarpivot eyelets; a rectangular extension frame, having foot extensionsadapted for extension through said eyelets, to brace against said anchorframe; a shaping frame constructed from resilient wire shaped to thedesired opening for said trough, and coiled adjacent the inner end forpivotal attachment to said extension frame, said shaping frame havingrearward extensions provided with hooks to engage the sides of saidextension frame from beneath the same; and a trough constructed from aflexible material, the upper edge whereof is secured to the shapingframe, said frames being adapted to fold each upon the other, and toprovide, when folded, an inner space for the stowing of said trough.

3. A portable horse-feeding trough, comprising an anchor frameconstructed from resilient wire shaped to conform with a horse-collar orhames therefor; fastening straps for the free ends of said frame, todraw the frame in holding position on said collar and hames, said wirebeing bent upon itself to form pivot eyelets adjacent the shoulder-padsof said collar; a rectangular extension frame, having foot extensionsadapted for extension through said eyelets, to brace against said anchorframe; a shaping frame constructed from resilient wire shaped to thedesired opening for said trough, and coiled adjacent the inner end forpivotal attachment to said extension frame, said shaping frame havingrearward extensions provided with hooks to engage the sides of saidextension frame from beneath the same; a trough constructed from aflexible material, the upper edge whereof is secured to the shapingframe, said frames being adapted to fold each upon the other, and toprovide, when folded, an inner space for the stowing of said trough; andmeans connecting said anchor frame and said extension frame, forsupporting the latter in a substantially horizontal position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK L. MEYER. lVitnesses:

A. M. BLAOKMORE, CLARA V. Woonnnrr.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

